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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Countless lives were touched by the commitment and |
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compassion of Dr. Ralph M. Smith of Austin, who passed away on March |
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11, 2017, at the age of 85; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on March 19, 1931, Ralph Smith grew up in Hot |
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Springs, Arkansas; he married the former Bess Noble in 1951, and the |
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couple shared a rewarding marriage that spanned 56 years before |
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Mrs. Smith's passing in 2008; they became the parents of three |
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children, Diane, Wallace, and Peyton, and in later years, the |
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family grew to include seven grandchildren and three |
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great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Smith completed his doctoral degree in theology |
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at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and served as pastor |
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of First Baptist Church in Rosenberg before becoming pastor of Hyde |
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Park Baptist Church in Austin; his uplifting, beautifully crafted |
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sermons provided inspiration to all who heard them, and over the 36 |
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years that he led the Hyde Park congregation, membership increased |
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from about 1,000 to more than 12,000; this dedicated leader also |
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established the Hyde Park Baptist Foundation as an endowment to |
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support church ministries; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly respected by his peers, Dr. Smith helped |
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establish 16 churches, served on the founding executive committee |
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of Austin Baptist Church, and oversaw the construction of numerous |
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buildings for Baptist organizations; in addition, he served as |
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president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the |
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Southern Baptist Convention Pastor's Conference, and he was a |
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regent of Baylor University and chair of the Southwestern Baptist |
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Theological Seminary board of trustees; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Smith retired in 1996, after he was stricken by |
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Guillain-Barre syndrome, and following 17 months of |
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hospitalization and rehabilitation, he published the book You Can't |
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Fall off the Floor to offer encouragement and hope to other |
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sufferers; he also published three other titles in his lifetime, |
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and he continued to mentor younger pastors and provide spiritual |
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guidance to those in need until the final years of his life; and |
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WHEREAS, Warm, engaging, and quick to smile, Ralph Smith |
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conveyed a joyful message of unwavering faith, and he will forever |
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hold a special place in the hearts of those he left behind; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to Dr. Ralph Smith and extend |
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sincere condolences to all who mourn his passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dr. Smith. |
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Workman |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 908 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on March 23, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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